Tom Vilsack
Thomas James Vilsack (born December 13, 1950) is an American politician. Vilsack is the 32nd and current United States Secretary of Agriculture since 2021 during the Joe Biden presidency. He was also the 30th Secretary of Agriculture from 2009 to 2017 during the Barack Obama presidency. He was the Governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007.
Tom Vilsack | |
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| 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| Assumed office February 24, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Jewel H. Bronaugh Xochitl Torres Small |
| Preceded by | Sonny Perdue |
| In office January 20, 2009 – January 13, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Kathleen Merrigan Krysta Harden Michael Scuse (acting) |
| Preceded by | Ed Schafer |
| Succeeded by | Sonny Perdue |
| 40th Governor of Iowa | |
| In office January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 | |
| Lieutenant | Sally Pederson |
| Preceded by | Terry Branstad |
| Succeeded by | Chet Culver |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 49th district | |
| In office January 11, 1993 – January 11, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Hester |
| Succeeded by | Mark Shearer |
| Mayor of Mount Pleasant | |
| In office 1987–1992 | |
| Preceded by | Edward King |
| Succeeded by | Stanley Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas James Vilsack December 13, 1950 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Christie Bell (m. 1973) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Hamilton College, New York (BA) Albany Law School (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Vilsack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At college, he met and married his wife, Christie. They moved to Iowa after graduation. They have two children.
Vilsack served in the Iowa State Senate before he ran for governor in 1998. He won that election and the next one in 2002. He chose not to run again in 2006.
In December 2006, Vilsack said he would run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. He dropped out of the race a few months later. He endorsed New York Senator Hillary Clinton.
In December 2020, then-President-elect Joe Biden nominated Vilsack to serve as Agriculture Secretary for a second time.[1] On February 23, 2021 the United States Senate confirmed Vilsack's nomination a second time with a 92-7 vote.[2]
Tom Vilsack Media
Governor Tom Vilsack in 2008
Tom Vilsack presidential campaign, 2008
Vilsack announces his withdrawal from the 2008 presidential race
Vilsack's 2009 official portrait during his first tenure as Agriculture secretary
Vilsack introduces President Barack Obama at the Northeast Iowa Community College, for a White House Rural Economic Forum on August 16, 2011.
Vilsack is sworn in for the second time as agriculture secretary by Vice President Kamala Harris, February 24, 2021.
References
- ↑ Nichols, Hans (8 December 2020). "Biden to pick Vilsack for agriculture secretary, Fudge for HUD". Axios. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ↑ "Senate confirms Tom Vilsack to serve again as agriculture secretary". CNN. February 23, 2021.
Other websites
- Tom Vilsack for President Archived 2012-10-23 at the Wayback Machine
- Vilsack to make White House run[dead link] from the Des Moines Register, includes links to biography and related coverage
- MySpace page
- Project Vote Smart profile
- The New York Times - Tom Vilsack News news stories and commentary